Fan rotor



April Q H. E. RATHBUN 2,195,869

FAN ROTOR Filed Aug. 25, 1959 Patented Apr. 2 1940 PATENT OFFICE FAN ROTOR Homer E. Rathbun, Glendale, Calm, assignor to Clayton Manufacturing Company, Alhambra, CaliL, a corporation of California Application August 25,

6 Claim.

This invention relates to fan rotors and more particularly to an improved form of fan rotor of the multiple blade type.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved form of fan rotor or wheel which may be constructed at relatively low cost and which is of relatively great durability and is rigid and strong.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fan wheel or rotor constructed of a fan rim having the fan blades formed therein, the edges of which rim are reinforced with reinforcing flanges rolled thereon to crimp the edges of the rim and retain the same within the roll of said fan rotor is formed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fan rotor or wheel including a rim out of which the fan blades are formed, and which rim is subjected to the least possible metal deformation tending to set up stresses or strains in the metal whereby the fan rotor or wheel would fail in service. A

Other objects and advantages of this invention it is believed'will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying draw- In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the fan wheel or rotor embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmental sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmental view illustrating the method and construction of connecting the rim to the supporting flanges.

Figure 5 is a view of the blank used in forming the blades.

Figure 6 is a view of the blank with a portion of the blades as stamped therein.

Figure 7 is a fragmental view similar to Figure 4 illustrating the method of connecting the fan wheel or rotor rim with the flanges prior to the crimping or rolling operation.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of the method of securing the edges of the fan rim to the end of the reinforcing flanges.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, I indicates the fanrotor rim having at its edges a reinforcing flange 2 and a reinforcing end sup-- porting flange 3. The reinforcing end supporting flange 3 carries the hub element 4 by which flanges whereby a rigid strong and permanent,

1989, Serial No. 291,916

(Cl. 280-434) V the fan wheel or rotor is supported upon the fan shaft.

. In order to properly understand the construction of the fan wheel embodying my invention,. it is believed essential to set forth preferably the method of its construction, which is: v

The fan rim l is, in accordance with my invention, formed from a continuous length of steel indicated at 5, which is passed under a proper forming die which forms the fan blades '6 by stamping thesame in a continuous step manner from the blank 5. The diameter to which the fan wheel or rotor is to be formed then determines the length at which the blank 5 is cut. The fan blade 6 may be formed in any suitable or desirable manner, or of any preferred or desired shape as, for example, the same are illustrated in the patent granted to Nikonow, No. 863,428 of August 13, 1907, and to some extent as illustrated in the British patent to Walton, No. 156,976, dated January 20, 1921. Thus the blank is stamped to provide parallel spaced transverse slits I having at their ends curved end slits 8 which terminate at points spaced from the edges 9 of the blank 5 in order to leave undisturbed edges It. The curved slits 8 terminate short of the next adjacent slit 1, leaving a portion of the metal of the rim l which may be deformed to connect the blades 6 with the edges I0 of the blank 5. As these slits 8 are formed in a curved fashion, the'outer terminus of these slits extends relatively close to the next adjacent transverse slit 1 if continued, but as the transverse slits l terminate in the curved slits 8, the metal remaining between the curved slits 8 is not dependent upon the relative distance between the parallel transverse slits 1.

While I have herein described that the blades are formed of the slits I and thecurved slits 8, it will be obvious that in the slitting operation to form the blades as illustrated that this slitting operation is preferably formed as a single operation by the use of a single slitting die, thereby insuring no interruption in the continuous formation of the edges of the blades 6 or their formation from the blank 5.

After the slits l and 8 have been formed or as a continuation of the same operation of forming the same, the blades 6 are pressed out to the desired formation, as particularly illustrated in Figure 3. After the blades 6 have thus been properly formed and the blank 5 has been cut to the desired length, the rim I as thus formed is curved to bring the opposed ends of the same into contact to form a continuous fan rotor rim I. The uninterrupted edges 10 of the rim I are then slipped into the receiving recesses I I formed in the reinforcing flange 2 and the reinforcing end supporting flange 3, thus holding the rim I in the proper curved relationship. The edges ID are then securely afllxed to the flanges 2 and 3 by crimping the overlapped sections I2 of said flanges 2 and 3 and the edges In of the rim I by passing the same between forming dies indicated at I3. Thus a rigid and strong reinforced fan rotor or wheel is formed.

The reinforcing flange 2 merely reinforces the fan rotor rim I at the free edge so as to prevent collapse of the same in service and is so crimped to the free edge I at the overlapped portions I2 as to prevent separation.

The reinforcing and supporting flange 3 provides a complete end flange for the fan rotor wheel and is at its central portion securely affixed to the hub member 4 as by means of rivets I4 or other proper form of securing means.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the complete fan rotor or wheel is formed and constructed strong and durable through a minimum of metal deformation tending to set up strains or stresses in the metal which might ultimately result in failure of the fan rim I of the blade 6 thereof.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fan wheel comprising a circular metal rim portion having substantially equally spaced fan blades formed intermediate the side edges thereof and projecting therefrom; and a circular reinforcing member having a flange substantially ushaped in radial cross section to provide a recess to receive the side edge 'of said rim portion, said flange and the rim portion received in the recess thereof being crimped to provide concentric offset portions interlocking the same together.

2. A fan rotor comprising a rim portion made of sheet metal' stamped to provide a series of blades between its side edges and bent to circular form; and a circular reinforcing member for each side edge of said rim, each of said circular reinforcing members having a flange substantially U-shaped in radial cross section to provide a recess to receive a side edge of said rim portion, the flange and the rim portion received in the recess being crimped to provide concentric offset portions interlocking the same together.

3. A fan wheel comprising a circular metal rim member having substantially equally spaced fan blades disposed intermediate the side edges thereof; and a circular reinforcing member for said rim member, one of said members having walls separated by an annular recess, a circular edge of the other member being adapted to be inserted in said recess, said walls, and the portion of the other member received in said annular recess thereof being provided with a crimp to interlock the same.

4. A fan wheel comprising a rim portion of sheet metal bent to circular shape and having substantially equally spaced fan blades disposed intermediate the side edges thereof; and a circular reinforcing member having walls separated by an annular recess. a side edge of said rim being adapted to be received in said annular recess, said walls and the rim portion received in said annular recess being undulated to interlock the same.

5. A fan wheel comprising a rim portion made of sheet metal stamped to provide a series of blades between its side edges and bent to circular form; and a circular reinforcing member for said rim having a flange substantially U-shaped in radial cross section to provide a recess to receive a side edge of said rim portion, said flange and the rim portion received in the recess thereof being provided with a crimp to interlock the same.

6. A fan wheel comprising a rim portion made of sheet metal stamped to provide a series of blades between its side edges and bent to circular form; and a circular reinforcing member for said rim having a flange substantially U-shaped in radial cross section to provide a recess to receive a side edge of said rim portion, said flange and the rim portion received in the recess thereof being provided with a crimp to interlock the same, said circular reinforcing member being provided with hub means for mounting the same upon a shaft.

HOMER E. RATHBUN. 

